Your back has to absorb stress and still let you move, so a lot can go wrong: discs, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments can all be irritated or damaged. Sometimes it is a car accident. More often it is small, repeated stress. Dr. Kalay’s exam finds the cause, so care is aimed at it and not just at the ache.
Sounds familiar?
The list of things that can hurt your back seems endless, but a few come up far more than the rest. You may not recall any event that started it, which is why the exam matters.
01
Think of a disc as a jelly doughnut. When the outer edge wears down over time, the soft center can push out and irritate what’s around it. Not every bulge hurts, but when one presses on a nerve the pain can be stabbing and shoot into the legs.
02
Chiropractors call it a subluxation: a vertebra that has shifted out of place and disrupts normal movement. It is one of the most overlooked sources of back pain, and physical trauma and stress can both bring it on.
03
Muscles, tendons and ligaments get hurt when you ask them for something they aren’t used to: lifting something too heavy, twisting, or doing too much too soon. They can be very painful, often with swelling and bruising.
04
Long-running stress keeps muscles tense. That tension produces trigger points, tight spots in the muscle that can be extremely painful on their own.
Back pain gets simpler to treat once you aim at the cause instead of the symptoms. Dr. Kalay finds the source first, then matches the care to it and walks you through the plan. Curious how you may feel afterward? Read about soreness after an adjustment. Considering laser? Here’s what a course of laser therapy for back pain involves.
For the spine and joints
Gentle adjustments bring vertebrae that have shifted out of position back where they belong, so the spine can move normally again. Sprains and strains are closely tied to the spine, which is why they typically respond well to chiropractic care too.
How it worksFor the disc
The DRX9000 gently stretches and relaxes the spine in computer-controlled cycles, easing pressure on a bulging or herniated disc and the nerves around it, without surgery or medication.
How it worksFor pain and inflammation
Therapeutic light delivered to the injured area to calm inflammation and support healing. It is painless, with no downtime, and is used for chronic low back pain.
How it worksFrom the feet up
Sensorimotor orthotics that give the body a steadier foundation, so walking puts less strain on the joints, muscles and discs above.
How it worksWhere every plan starts
A consultation and exam to find the cause, then a plan you understand before care begins. Your first consultation is complimentary.
I went in with a lot of lower back pain, and walked out feeling less pain. … He did multiple adjustments, and let me know what he was going to before he did the adjustment.
“Left side of my back was causing so much pain I couldn’t sleep at night, went in, saw Dr. Kalay and I feel better.”
“My back has been bothering me this winter and l needed a treatment that wouldn’t take up to much of my time. … He explained how I could prevent the problem from returning with some simple exercises.”
Reviews are quoted as written. Individual results vary.
Reviewed by
Dr. Gurj Kalay, DC
Doctor of Chiropractic, Palmer College of Chiropractic West (2014)
General information, not medical advice. Your own exam decides your care.
The most common causes are a bulging or herniated disc, a vertebra out of position, a sprain or strain, and long-running stress. Sometimes there is a clear event, like a car accident, but often it is small, repeated stress, so many people can’t point to a moment it started.
No. Plenty of people have a disc bulge or herniation and feel nothing from it. When it does hurt, the pain depends on where the disc is and whether it’s irritating a nearby nerve. A nerve involved can send sharp, lightning-like pain and weakness into the legs.
No. Back pain alone doesn’t make you a candidate for decompression. Dr. Kalay looks at your history, symptoms and exam first. Some conditions, such as pregnancy, a recent spinal fracture or surgical hardware in the area being treated, rule it out, and if another path suits you better, he’ll tell you.
You typically don’t need a referral to see a chiropractor in California, so you can book an evaluation directly. If you plan to use insurance, check your plan’s rules; the front desk can help look into your benefits before care starts.
Exercise regularly. Lift with your knees bent and your back straight, and don’t twist while you carry. If you sit all day, get up, walk and stretch every half hour. Choose a mattress that supports your hips and shoulders, sleep on your side or back rather than your front, and set your desk so your thighs sit nearly parallel to the floor. Ask Dr. Kalay which stretches are safe for you.
Yes. As the baby grows, your center of gravity moves forward and the curve of the lower back deepens, which adds stress to the lower back and the joints of the pelvis. A history of back problems can flare up too. The clinic offers prenatal chiropractic care for expecting mothers.
Care for upper, middle and lower back pain on Century Park Drive, with adjustments and decompression under one roof. The clinic serves Yuba City, Marysville, Live Oak, Gridley, Plumas Lake, Olivehurst, Wheatland and Colusa.
Call or book online. Your first consultation with Dr. Kalay is complimentary.
New patient? Send the new patient form and the team will contact you to set up your first visit.
New patient special437 Century Park Dr Ste A · Yuba City, CA
